on $100k a year, leaving Indianapolis

change
Albuquerque, NM cityscape

instead of indianapolis

Albuquerque

nm · metro 924k

photo: Lad Fury / pexels

a dispatch from

albuquerque

NM

35.08°N

106.65°W

Albuquerque is green chile on everything, the Sandia Mountains turning pink at sunset (the name literally means watermelon), and the Balloon Fiesta in October when 500+ hot air balloons fill the sky. The old town adobes feel like the 1700s, the food fuses Native, Mexican, and Spanish in ways you won't get anywhere else. Breaking Bad fans will recognize half the city, and locals are good-natured about it.

metro924k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$219

pricier each month than Indianapolis

Albuquerque costs more than Indianapolis, and you'll feel it. The upside has to come from somewhere other than your budget.
landable, recorded on the albuquerque entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,489/mo

1% cheaper than Indianapolis(vs $1,511/mo)

02state income tax

5.9%

$242/mo more in state tax than Indianapolis

vs 3% in Indianapolis

03after rent

$6,353/mo

$219 less than Indianapolis

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$351k

19% more expensive than Indianapolis

vs $296k in Indianapolis

05metro size

924k

vs 2.1M in Indianapolis

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

205

pleasant days a year, in albuquerque.

Indianapolis only logs 174 pleasant days. Summers run hot, though: 34 days above 95° vs Indianapolis's 0.

Noticeably quieter than Indianapolis. About 53% fewer events on a typical month.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

81/100

31% higher than Indianapolis

vs 62/100 in Indianapolis

Closest outdoor draw: Sandia Mountain Wilderness, 13.4 mi.

·walk score®

94/100

5% lower than Indianapolis

vs 99/100 in Indianapolis

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

23

34% fewer than Indianapolis

vs 35 nonstops in Indianapolis

04 · see also

same energy as albuquerque, different zip code:

see also

spartanburg

$5/mo cheaper

turn the page

see also

greenville

more things to do

turn the page

see also

spokane

$460/mo cheaper

turn the page

compare albuquerque with:

SpartanburgGreenvilleSpokane